In response to a reader’s request for an update, I got curious so quickly updated the currency exchange rate differential graph and have inserted it underneath the original, so you can see what has happened since 11 October.

I am curious how long the strong inflow numbers to Australia can continue given the rising strength of the AUS$ against that of the US, the world’s No. 1 foreign student destination, and location of most of the world’s highly ranked universities. But then again students and parents think about much more than exchange rates.

I don’t think currency conversion is the only issue. The college I work at (Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska) once averaged around 15 percent international students, partly because of our affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church world wide, partly because of our recruiting strategy at the time. However, since 2001 and the tightening of America’s borders, our international student population has halved.

I’m not sure what the current success rate is, but I remember in 2004 only one out of every 30 of our international applicants were granted a visa. These were kids who have shown sufficient financial resources and had their applications accepted by the college. I doubt the situation has improved much since then.

In other words, the problem with America as a destination spot for international students is not only the cost of tuition, but also a federal government that seems intent on killing off a very lucrative source of income and an enervating source of diversity for higher education in the name of security.